Portable cooler



Sept; 9, 1947. H C, SALZMANN v 2,427,230

PORTABLE COOLER I Filed OCb. 28,1946

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- mvENToR' HARRY CLEIMENS SALZMANN ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 9, i947 Y.Y.

UNITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE COOLER Harry Clemens Salsrnann,Chicagmlll.

Application October 28, 1946, Serial No. 706,260

This invention relates to a new article of manufacture having thecharacteristics of a footrest, ottoman, hassock, or the like, and arefriglerator unit or cooler all ccntained in a unitary structure.

The main objects of thisinvention are to provide a device of thischaracter having the characteristios of a footrest, hassock or ottoman,or the like, and a refrigerator unit or cooler, all arranged in asimple, compact unitary structure; to provide a device of this characterwherein the temperature within the interior thereof is controlled andheld uniform; to provide a structure of this character which is readilyportable; to provide a structure of this character wherein Dry Icepreferably constructed of sheet metal rigidly or ice cubes may beutilized and disposed within v housings placed about the interior of theunit; to

provide a device of this character which will bek attractiveY inappearance and economical to use; and to provide a, device of thischaracter which is simple in construction and inexpensive tomanufacture.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of my device.

Figs. 2 and 3 are cross sectional Views taken on the lines 2-2 and 3-3of Figs. 1 and 2, respectively.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the door of my invention, with partsshown broken away and in cross section.

The outer structure of my device is an upholstered ottoman, footrest,hassock or like device commonly used in most homes. The device disclosedin the drawings for illustrative purposes is an upholstered hassockhaving a top I,

Vertical side walls 2, all suitably upholstered and nished to present apleasing appearance to the eye. It will be appreciated that a suitablecushion may be placed on top I if desired. The side walls 2 are allsecured in the usual manner to suitable skeletal framework 5 consistingof uprights and cross bars.

An inner liner preferably constructed of sheet steel, or the like, issecured to and within the interior area of the framework 5 as clearlyshown in Figs. 2 and 3, and comprises a top- S, side walls 1, a backwall 8, all generally conforming to the shape of the side walls 2 of theexterior of the device, and a. bottom wall 9, all integrally securedtogether at their marginal edges to form a chamber to receive articlesto be stored therein.

.The ice receptacle comprises a pair of elongated vertically disposedtubes I6 and II, substantially square in cross section (see Fig. 3

mounted on the rear wall 8 of the inner liner and spaced apart as rshownin Fig. 3. The upper ends of the tubes II). and II extend through thetop wall 6 of the inner liner and into the area constituting an upperchamber dened by the top wall 6 ofthe inner liner and the top I of thedevice. Each tube is provided with a hinged cover plate I2 and accessthereto is had by removing the top I or if the tcp I is hingedlysecured, as shown in Fig` 2 by the hinge I3, then by raising the top Iby lifting the same upwardly at its front edge as indicated by thedotted lines in Fig. 2 the saine result is obtained.

In order to insure that the chamber formed by the inner liner retainsits low temperatures after it has been cooled by the ice Iii, in theform of cubes, crushedrice or Dry Ice, I pack insulation material I5v inthe spaces defined by the framework 5, side walls 2 and the liner walls'I and 9, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. I provide a door I6 in the front ofthe device which is hingedly secured as at II to one of the side walls2, whereby to provide access to the chamber formed by the inner liner. Apair of ice containers, in the form of elongated tubes I -I similar insubstantially all details to the tubes IEJ-I I, are rigidly secured tothe inside face of the door I6, one adjacent each side edge thereof andeach is provided with a cover plate 20 whereby access to the interior ofthe tubes is had.

The ice tubes IIJ-II are provided with a connecting tube 2l positionedat the lower ends of the tubes IIl--II whereby any water or moistureaccumulating in the tubes may be concentrated and drawn off through thepet cock or valve 22. A similar tube 23 and valve 24 is provided for theice tubes I8-I9 to perform the same function.

The device of my invention may also contain a utility drawer 25positioned, as shown in Figs. l and 2, and disposed between the top Iand top wall 6 of the inner liner.

It will know be apparent that this device may be used anywhere in thehome and is particularly useful in parts of the home remote from theusual icebox, and Will keep cool or chill bottled beverages, forinstance, when the tubes III-II and IS-IS are lled with ice cubes or DryIce, and thereby provide a convenient small portable cooler.

Since there is always a possibility that condensation is likely to formon the inner side Walls of the inner liner, I iind it advisable to placea drip pan 26 on the lower wall 9 of the inner liner an inner linerpositioned Within the interior area4 of said framework, a plurality ofelongated'ice';

tubes vertically disposed within the inner area of and mounted on saidinner liner'and' on said4 door, and insulating meanssdisposed ini` the:

spaces defined by said framework, the side and back walls of said innerliner, and said side-walls*` 2. In a device of theclass described aframework having fully upholsteredfside Wallszandtop, a door hingedlysecured to said` framework, an inner liner positioned within theinterior' area of said framework, a plurality'of. elongated ice tubesvertically disposed within theinner area of and mounted on said'innerliner andony said door, means placing the. tubes securedl to said innerliner in communication;withone another, means placing the tubessecuredltovsaid' doorin communication with one another, and-insulatingmeans disposedi in the spaces` defined' by said framework the sideandiback Walls-'ofsaidinner liner, and said side walls.

3. In a device of the class desc/ribedaframework having fullyupholsteredfside walls and-top,

a door hingedly securedv to said framework, an' inner liner positionedWithin the-interior area of said framework, a plurality* of elongated'ice tubes vertically disposed within-1 the* inner area of and mounted onsaid inner liner and on said door, means placing the tubes secured tosaid inner liner in communication with one another, means placing thetubes secured to said door in communication with one another, an outletport in one of said tubes secured to said inner liner, a second outletport in one of said tubes on said door, and insulating means disposed inthe spaces defined by said framework the side and back walls ofs'aidinn'er liner, andsaid side walls.-`

4. In a device of the class described' a framework having fullyupholstered side walls and top, a door hingedly secured to saidframework, an inner liner positioned within the interior area of saidframework, a plurality of elongated tubes disposed' vertically withinthe inner area of and mounted on said inner liner and a plurality ofvertically disposed elongated ice tubes positioned on the interior faceof said door, means placing the tubes secured to said inner liner incommunication with one another, meansplacing the tubes securedtosaidvdoor in communication with one another.; an outlet port'inone of`said tubessecured to said inner liner, a second outlet port in one ofsaid tubes on said door, a drip pan posi-- tioned in the lower portionofi said inner liner, and: insulating means disposed inv the spacesdened by said framework the side and back walls. of said inner liner,and said-side Walls.

HARRY CLEMENS SALZMANN.

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